The IRPE recognizes role model organizations for sustainability and maintaining a future focus on performance excellence. A key requirement of the application for IRPE recognition pertains to employee engagement, continuous improvement and commitment to the Iowa community beyond the workplace.

The Firestone farm tire facility is the first tire plant to receive this recognition.

“Receiving Bronze Level recognition in 2012 in our first submission was a tremendous honor,” says Ken Allen, president of the Firestone Farm Tires Division. “To again receive IRPE recognition and at an even higher level -- Silver -- is absolutely remarkable."

The Des Moines plant has the capacity to produce 4,570 Firestone brand bias and radial farm tires a day, according to the 2014 Modern Tire Dealer Facts Issue. The facility employs more than 1,600 teammates and has been an integral part of the Des Moines community and Central Iowa region since 1945, the year the plant opened.

In addition to manufacturing Firestone-brand agricultural tires, the plant also produces tires for the forestry and construction equipment markets.

The IRPE is one of 39 state award programs aligned with the National Baldridge Performance Excellence Program. Applicants are scored based on the application and an independent examiner team site visit. Examiners look for systemic processes and results in the areas of leadership, strategic planning, customer focus, workforce focus, operations focus, measurement analysis and knowledge management, financial and market.

All around the world the professional retreading of tires is considered to be an important aspect of our industry, especially when it comes to the commercial vehicle sector, and Europe is certainly no exception.